7/1/2013 8:50 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

breaking news

Pay attention kids, 'cause today's lesson -- YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE.

TMZ has learned ... Kevin Clash -- who famously voiced Elmo -- just scored a big victory in the child molestation cases filed against him, after a judge ruled that THREE accusers had waited too long to file their lawsuits.

According to the legal documents filed in federal court in New York and obtained by TMZ, the judge THREW OUT the lawsuits filed by Cecil Singleton, Kevin Kiadii and a 3rd unnamed accuser -- after deciding their cases against Clash had been submitted after the statute of limitations had run out.

We broke the story ... Singleton sued Clash back in 2012(when he was 23) claiming an adult Clash seduced him when he was 15 years old. Singleton says they had sexual intercourse years later ... when Cecil was an adult.

In the documents, the judge explains that the statute of limitations to sue expired 3 years after the accusers turned 18 ... therefore, they're all too late.

Clash resigned from his job with Sesame Street after several men -- including Singleton and Kiadii -- came forward with allegations of inappropriate sexual relationships.

4/17/2013 11:00 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

A man who accused the former Elmo puppeteer of underage sex has dropped his lawsuit in New York ... saying he wants to focus on his career.

If you're keeping score ... that leaves four men who've sued Clash for allegedly engaging in sexual escapades with them when they were underage.

The lawyer for the man who dropped his case tells us ... there's been NO settlement, and his client stands by his story. The lawyer says his client can re-file his case later ... though he's not saying that's going to happen.

Still ... Clash has to be relieved that one of these kids is not like the other.

See More:

4/1/2013 4:55 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

What's "Sesame Street" to do when the man who used to voice Elmo gets embroiled in an underage sex scandal? Find someone who is just as androgynous as Elmo to replace him.

TMZ was at the White House Easter Egg Roll today where the new person doing the voice of Elmo was there to entertain the children.

Not trying to be rude, just being honest ... we don't know if it's a guy or a girl.

You have to wonder if the "Sesame Street" people made this choice on purpose ... since Kevin Clash, the guy who used voice Elmo, lost his job after accusations of underage sex with boys.

But don't get too attached to the new voice actor (or actress) ... a rep for Sesame Workshop tells us the puppeteer is just a temp ... because "no decision has been made for a permanent replacement as of yet."

7:20 AM PT -- The mystery is solved!!!! The person who does the voice is Ryan Dillon ... and it's ... a ... MAN!!!

See More:

3/19/2013 6:15 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Kevin Clash, the longtime voice of Elmo, has been sued by a man who claims ... when he was a minor, Clash lured him to engage in lurid, crystal meth sex parties.

Sheldon Stephens says he was 16 when he met Clash at a social networking function for actors. Soon after, Stephens says the two began a sexual relationship that escalated over a period of years.

Stephens claims he was taken to Clash's New York lair by chauffeured limo. While there, he alleges Clash smoked crystal meth during their sexual escapades. He says Clash also gave him poppers to intensify the experience.

And, Stephens says, the chauffeur was in on it ... the driver allegedly masturbated while watching Clash and Stephens have sex.

TMZ broke the story ... Clash and Stephens had reached a settlement ... but Stephens disavowed it because it had a provision requiring him to say he was making the allegations up. The settlement money was never paid, and that's why Stephens filed the lawsuit.

Clash resigned from "Sesame Street" after the allegations of Stephens and other young men surfaced.

11:20 AM PT -- Clash's attorney released a statement addressing Stephens' lawsuit, saying, "Sheldon Stephens has already admitted in writing that he had 'an adult consensual relationship' with Mr. Clash ... Mr. Clash continues to deny any wrongdoing, and we intend to defend this case forcefully."

See More:

12/10/2012 7:00 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

Kevin Clash has been sued by a 4TH accuser ... who claims he also had a sexual relationship with the former voice of Elmo while he was a minor ... TMZ has learned.

We've learned ... the accuser, who filed the lawsuit in federal court in NY under the name John Doe, claims he first met Clash in Miami Beach in 1995 or 1996 ... while Doe was 16 or 17 and Clash was in his mid '30s.

Doe claims ... Clash eventually flew him out to NYC and gave him money and a place to stay. During the trip, Doe claims the two had sex on multiple occasions.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Doe claims he's suffered tremendous emotional, mental and psychological damage as a result of the relationship.

TMZ spoke to Doe's attorney, Jeff Herman, who tells us, "According to our lawsuit, Kevin Clash knowingly paid to transport a minor across state lines for the purpose of satisfying his sexual interests."

Of Clash's 4 accusers, only 3 have filed lawsuits. The first accuser struck a settlement with Clash and agreed not to pursue litigation.

See More:

12/2/2012 5:30 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

Just two days before he laid the legal smackdown on Elmo voice actor Kevin Clash -- claiming Clash sexually abused him as a teenager -- Cecil Singleton laid the smackdown on STAGE ... dropping it like it's hot at a NYC drag show ... and we got the video.

Cecil took the stage at Lips Drag Show on November 18th in what appears to be some kind of dance battle.

We only see Cecil's dance part -- but it's safe to say he won ... at least based on the guy's insane moves ... easily performing a split, and booty-popping his way back onto his feet.

See More:

11/27/2012 12:55 PM PST BY TMZ STAFF

The third man to accuse Elmo voice actor Kevin Clash of underage sex abuse wrote a book in 2009 about their allegedly illegal trysts -- in which he refers to Clash as "Mr. Tickler."

The accuser's lawyer read an excerpt from the book -- which is yet unpublished -- during a news conference today, quoting, "Mr. Tickler is what I will call him. And the game we played was father and son."

The lawyer read, "When we first met, I was 16 and there was no intercourse. However, lots of heavy kissing and he showed me what it felt like to get on your knees and obey your man."

The dramatic reading continues in even more lurid detail -- seriously ... watch the video at your own discretion.

See More:

11/27/2012 6:43 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

Kevin Clash -- the former voice of Elmo -- used alcohol as a precursor to oral sex with an underage boy ... this according to a new lawsuit that has just been filed by a THIRD accuser.

According to the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan and obtained by TMZ, the alleged victim met Clash on a gay phone chat line when he was 16 and Clash was approximately 40.

The accuser -- now 28 -- says he was in NYC pursuing modeling opportunities when Clash invited him to his swanky NYC apartment, which was strewn with Elmo dolls and photos of Elmo with famous people, including Beyonce and Tyra Banks.

During the encounter, the accuser -- who refers to himself as John Doe -- claims Clash plied him with alcohol and "groomed him," and then engaged in sexual contact that included "oral sex and digital penetration of John's anus."

The accuser says Clash stayed in touch with him after the sexual encounter, although no further sexual contact occurred until he became an adult.

The accuser is suing for unspecified damages.

As you know, Clash resigned from Sesame Street hours after the second accuser filed suit.

See More:

11/25/2012 5:45 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

Tom Kenny has been the voice of Spongebob Squarepants from the get go ... and he feels fellow voice actor Kevin Clash did the right thing by resigning after allegations surfaced he had sex with two underage boys.